National Excellence

In finishing 18th in Australia (points score – here) and 4th highest Victorian Club, Senior Head Coach Brian Ford was full of praise for the team – ” Over the 8 days of competing against the best swimmers in Australia our 17 strong contingent again highlighted that whilst we don’t have the resources and access to 50 metre pools like most of our competing clubs, a strong group of swimmers, parents and coaches working towards one cause can produce fantastic results. We are proud to have represented the region, district and of course the Traralgon club to the highest level.”
15 year old Caiden Gill had an outstanding meet winning silver in the 50 free breaking the Victorian record in the heat (23.47) and again in the final (23.25). This time was also the fastest time ever recorded by a Gippsland swimmer breaking his coach, Ben Geard’s old time from 2009. Caiden also broke Victorian Country and Gippsland records in the 100 free ( 52.27) and 100 back (59.82).
14 year old Ellodie Reid continued her success at National level winning sliver in the 14 years 200 back ( 2.21.90), a new Gippsland record, bronze in the 800 free (9.07.20) also a Gippsland record and a Victorian Country record in the 400 free ( 4.26.53 ).

13 year old Melina De Cort won bronze in the 100 back (1.05.83) and again in the 200 back (2.21.38) the latter a new Gippsland record breaking Ellodie’s record from earlier in the meet. Melina also broke the Victorian Country record in the 100 back by posting the time of 1.05.51 in the first leg of a relay on day one.

The final medallist was 15 year old Mikaela Cornelissen who won silver in the 100 fly (1.00.73), a new Victorian Country and Gippsland record. Mikaela also became the fastest female sprinter from Gippsland when she broke team mate Georgia Tsebelis 50 free record by 0.01 recording 26.50 for the swim.

13 year old Alex Tsebelis had a very successful meet making 7 finals and breaking a Victorian Country record in the 100 back (1.03.36).

Fellow age team member Locke DeGaris, swimming at his first Nationals, made 3 finals and 14 year old Connor O’Neill equalled the Gippsland record in the 200 back ( 2.18.42). 17 year old Brayden Haney was one of four 17 year olds to make the finals of the 17-18 years 200m breaststroke.

The final record was to the Girls 4 x 200 free relay (Ellodie Reid, Mikaela Cornelissen, Lauren Akers, Melina DeCort) who established a new Gippsland time of 8.52.51.

In the Multi Class competition Emily Beecroft was successful winning gold in the 50 free, 100 free, 50 back, 100 back, 50 fly and 100 fly events breaking 5 Australian records. Emily’s coach Dean Gooch was proud but not surprised by Emily’s performance – ” Emily has really lifted her training level in the past 2 months both in the gym and in the pool. Great training usually means great performance and Emily has certainly performed to the standards we have set for ourselves leading in to this meet. A worthy result for the time and effort put in by everyone involved – Emily, her parents and coaches.”